The new anticipated stand up seat has been revealed to the world and designed to increase the number of seats an airline can have in its economy class.

The design, named the ‘Sky Rider’ allows just 23 inches of legroom, which is about seven inches less than the average seat’s space of 30 inches. Shaped similar to a horse saddle, passengers sit at an angle, with their weight taken on by their legs. It allows seats to be overlapped. The seats would also offer storage space including a shelf for carry-on bags and hooks to hang a jacket or a handbag.

The makers say the seat would allow budget airlines, such as Ryanair, to cram more passengers into their tight cabins. But while the designers claim it does not affect passenger comfort, they say it would only be suitable for flights of up to three hours.

Ryanair, the Irish low-cost carrier, has previously said it would let passengers stand during flights if the Irish Aviation Authority granted permission. In July, Ryanair announced plans to operate flights where passengers stand during the journey at a cost of just £5 per ticket.

Michael O’Leary, the budget airline’s controversial chief executive, suggested the Irish airline may soon carry a number of “vertical seats”. But the latest idea has already been dismissed by safety officials. The European Aviation Safety Agency, in Cologne, Germany, said the plans were “highly unlikely” to meet stringent safety approval. “To our knowledge, no airlines or other operators have made an application for stand-up seats. What they are proposing would be unprecedented and highly unlikely to be certified in the near future,” a spokesman said.” No approval has been granted.

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